Candidate Profile: Jenny Stewart for Montgomery City Council

Editor's note: Some responses have been edited for clarity.

Montgomery County voters will soon make their decision on local races in the May 1 election.

Jenny Stewart, who is running for Montgomery City Council Place 1, shared with Patch why she should be elected to represent Montgomery residents.

Profile: Jenny Stewart

Age (as of Election Day): 61

Position sought: Montgomery City Council, Place 1

Party affiliation: Republican

Family: Married to Bob Stewart for 39 years; Two married daughters and two fabulous sons-in-law; Three grandchildren, more to come?

Previous or current elected or appointed office: I have served on Montgomery City Council for 3 terms (6 years).

Campaign website: https://www.facebook.com/MontgomeryTXLeadership

Q&A with Stewart

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

What is your educational background?

Graduated Cum Laude from Texas A&M in 1981; B.S. in Industrial Arts Education

What is your occupation?

Taught 7th grade for 3 years; horse breeder for 36 years

Why are you seeking elective office?

I want to:

• Rein in reckless spending
• Focus on infrastructure needs: water, sewer, roads, sidewalks
• Save the small town atmosphere we all love
• Promote greater transparency
• Reduce our taxes

The single most pressing issue facing our (board, district, etc.) is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

All of the above issues are important. I would start with spending issues by saving $12,000 in social media fees with Montgomery Economic Development Corporation. The chairwomen of that committee gets paid $1,000+ a month for a job that a professional media person will do for free.
Elect me and watch what I do, there's too much work to list here.

Editor’s check: An MEDC cash flow report dated March 31, 2021, shows three reimbursements for social media services to former Councilwoman and MEDC board member Rebecca Huss totaling $1,311.15

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

My opponent has consistently voted for spending money on items we don't need or that haven't been earmarked for a specific purpose: She seconded a motion to purchase a goat mascot costume spending up to $10,000 for it. She voted for spending $750,000 on 4+ acres with no earmarked purpose for the property.

Editor’s check: The minutes from the Dec. 8, 2020, Montgomery City Council meeting show a resolution (Item 15) regarding the purchase of the land in question from Montgomery ISD. The resolution passed unanimously.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board member or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)?

There aren't enough people looking out for the citizens’ needs. Infrastructure needs and drainage needs to work hand in hand. For example, it is hard to imagine a city with our growth rate not having a master drainage plan.

How do you think local officials performed in responding to the coronavirus? What, if anything, would you have done differently?

It appears that the city has followed all state and federal COVID-19 mandates correctly.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

MEDC appears to be operating as a slush fund for friends, businesses, and organizations to provide favors to those associated with the people in positions of power.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

• I have a proven track record of accomplishing results for the citizens every term in office.
• I led the city in the fight for zoning and got it passed through community input and professional help.
• I secured the purchase of 5 acres for Cedar Brake Park from the Catholic Church and spearheaded the park project by obtaining a $500,000 grant for the park.
• Bill Cummings and I represented the City at HGAC in the request for a $250,000 sewer grant and got it.
• I worked with the county and local citizens to secure the purchase of the current City Hall site from the county for one dollar.
• This was accomplished without computers, cell phones, or city administrators to help.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Stand up for what you believe and be willing to fight for it.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

The City of Montgomery and its future is very important to me and my family. If changes aren't made soon in city government, I worry about the direction this city is going in and what will happen to our way of life here. This is an unpaid position that requires a lot of work if you accept it. A lot of people accept the position but not the work.